[Staying in Touch with Old Friends]
I recently met a friend I hadn’t seen in ages.
He said that he’d been busy and also didn’t really know how to contact me. I told him the same. The truth is, we have a few mutual friends, and if we had really wanted to contact each other, we could have, but with busy schedules, and family life-and all sorts of things going on-well, I guess we just lost touch. So I got to thinking about the people I am in touch with now… and those I’d like to contact. I have a lot of friends and acquaintances,
but I used to have many more. Somewhere along the line, we just lost contact with each other. I’d like to contact some of my friends from high school. I’d like to say “hello” to some of the people I used to know in New York and California. I know I could do it. It wouldn’t require me to bend over backwards, but I’m not sure if I should. I mean, I have my hands full right now with family and work. Plus, I have people that I’m I contact with NOW, and I feel kind of guilty that I’m not able to spend more time with them.
Who needs more guilt? Not me!
▶ Key words and expression!s.
In ages: for a long time
Acquaintances: people that one knows but is not friends with
Somewhere along the line: sometime in the past
Bend over backwards: to try very hard; to make many attempts
Have one’s hands full: to be very busy; to have lots of work
▶Dialogue 1.
Jake: "Excuse me. You look familiar. Don't I know you from somewhere?"
Mary: "Umm....Yes. I remember you. Aren't you Jake? I'm Mary. I was in your French class."
Jake: "Yeah, I remember. You haven't changed a bit. You look the same."
Mary: "Well, you look like you've lost some weight."
Jake: "Yes, I have. I've lost about 5 pounds."
Mary: "Lucky you. You look great."
Jake: "Thanks. So do you."
▶ Key words and expression! 1.
1. look familiar :낯이 익다
2. lose weight: 살이 빠지다. <=> gain weight: 살이 찌다.
3. Lucky you: 참 좋겠네요. 좋으시겠네요. 상대방에게 좋은 일이 생겼을 때 You are lucky 라는 의미로 쓰는 표현이다.
4. So do you: 너도 마찬가지야.
cf) So I do(am): 난 정말 그래
▶Dialogue 2.
We had a misunderstanding.
Sue: "Wow, you look great!"
Jake: "Thanks."
Sue: "Where did you get that tie? It looks really good on you."
Jake: "Thanks. It was a birthday present from my ex-girlfriend."
Sue: "Your ex-girlfriend? Why did you two break up?"
Jake: "We had a misunderstanding."
Sue: "Do you miss her?"
Jake: "To tell you the truth, I do miss her from time to time."
▶ Key words and expression! 2.
1. ex-girlfriend: 예전의 여자친구
2. break up: 끝내다, 커플이 헤어지다.
3. misunderstanding: 오해, 불화
4. from time to time: 때때로, 이따금씩
(=sometimes, now and then, once in a while)
▶Discussion questions.
1. What kinds of things do you do to stay in touch with friends and family?
2. With my immediate family, I call and talk with them at least once a week. But what about distant relatives?
3. How often do you meet your old friends?
4. How about your close friends?
5. Do you find that your family life or work life prevents you from getting together as much as you’d like?
6. Do you mind writing “group” emails where you tell everyone all at once what is going on in your life?
7. What do you talk about when you contact an old friend?
8. Are you ever able to maintain contact with old friends?
9. What methods do you use to find your friends from high school or university?
10. Do you find that you still have things in common with your friends after not seeing them for a long time?